"He's a friend of mine. He's a good friend of mine. He's a good guy, but you know, he's one email away from a disaster," said Trump, at an event Tuesday morning at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.Follow @politicaltickerFollow @psteinhausercnn

"It's a very scary situation for Chris, and we'll see how he handles it," added Trump, the real estate mogul and reality TV star.

Trump's comments came just a few hours before the Republican Governor of New Jersey's second inauguration, a celebratory event that's now being overshadowed by clouds of controversy, as Christie's administration faces scandals over alleged strong-arming of political opponents.

Christie is also seriously considering a bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, and national polls of Republicans conducted after the Governor's landslide re-election two months ago suggested that he was becoming the front-runner among the possible contenders for the GOP nomination. But Trump says the controversies may hurt such a bid.

"At a minimum it's going to be tougher for him (Christie) because of what's happened," Trump added.

Trump spoke at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics' famous "Politics and Eggs" series, which often attracts top politicians and possible presidential contenders.

Asked to handicap the possible 2016 field, Trump said he thinks the eventual GOP nominee is "going to be somebody that nobody is even thinking about," and said that even though Hillary Clinton, if she runs, will instantly become the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination, "you just don't know what's going to happen."

The 67-year old Trump, who flirted with runs for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2000 and 2012 cycles, last year spoke to a number of Republican and conservative crowds, including addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference, which is the largest annual gathering of conservative leaders and activists, and is considered a must attend cattle call for Republican presidential hopefuls.

But Tuesday, Trump did not address his own possible presidential ambitions regarding 2016.

He did praise the crowd in the Granite State, which traditionally holds the first primary in the road to the White House, saying "you're special people. This is a special state. You're very important for a lot of reasons."

And a couple of times he highlighted his conservative chops, criticizing Obamacare and President Barack Obama's handling of the economy, and emphasizing that "I'm a very conservative person."

But he offered some advice to tea party activists and other grassroots conservatives, who have been blamed for nominating flawed candidates that were a contributing factor in the GOP loss of five Senate elections in the 2010 and 2012 cycles.

"I love the tea party and I love many of the things that the tea party represents," said Trump, before adding that "they have to be careful, however, cause we (Republicans) could have had two or three or four more senators right now if the tea party had been a little bit more lenient, a little bit more understanding."

soundoff(282 Responses)

Anonymous

What the hell happened to his face, he looks like a space alien. I'm sorry space aliens.

January 21, 2014 12:44 pm at 12:44 pm |

reasonablebe

ok. having trump as his friend was one of his many mistakes. who cares what this self aggrandizing person thinks or says? because he is soooo good at finances and politics, right? how many times has he had his co go belly up/bankrupt? how many wives have left him? how many times has he been so sure of something factually or politically, only to be totally wrong?

christie has his own problems, i don't think he needs trump to tell him what they are or what kind of difficulty he is in.... or what to do, if anything can be done.

January 21, 2014 12:47 pm at 12:47 pm |

TM

So Mr. Birther says the GOP nominee is "going to be somebody that nobody is even thinking about," That's just his way of saying that HE is going to run. NOBODY is thinking about Trump. For good reason.

January 21, 2014 12:49 pm at 12:49 pm |

conoclast

Trump's long suit is his astounding grasp of the obvious.

January 21, 2014 12:50 pm at 12:50 pm |

Gpaul50

Look at the make-up on this guy, just like a clown.

January 21, 2014 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

Smarter than ewe

Says Donald the orange duck.

January 21, 2014 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

drrichard

The guy is still a Birther. That right there says enough about his politics and the value of his opinions. Anyway, if that hypothetical e-mail comes out and Christie goes down, I wonder if Donald will call him up and say, "You're fired!"

January 21, 2014 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

red wash

Anonymous:
What the hell happened to his face, he looks like a space alien. I'm sorry space aliens.

it's the COMB-OVER!!!!

January 21, 2014 12:51 pm at 12:51 pm |

Tony

Love how you left wing media drag this guy out front and center when it serves your cause. I'm a republican who would never vote for this blow hard. Would vote for Obama first.

January 21, 2014 12:52 pm at 12:52 pm |

Steve C

Why hasn't Trump called for Christie's birth certificate? After all, that seems to be what Trump's proper role is in politics- hounding some politicos for proof of their American birth. Or does he just assume that Christie is an American citizen?

January 21, 2014 12:53 pm at 12:53 pm |

ST

Christie really messed up. I do not know who advises him. It was not clever of him coming up and give a long speech and answered questions, then rushing to apologise to people. One would ask: where was he when this happened? Why didn't he do it that time? Were he out of the country? Those who are questioning The Mayor, like Morning Joe and Mika, where she has been, should place this question to Christie first.

January 21, 2014 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |

jhonny Ausemkock

Donald Trump: For entertainment ONLY. (He IS fun to laugh at!)

January 21, 2014 12:56 pm at 12:56 pm |

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA -aka- Take Back The House -aka- No Redemption Votes

Dominican mama 4 Obama
Al-NY,NY

dye his hair and eyebrows white. Put a white set of overalls on him with some mittens and what do you have....
-----------------
...Wait, wait, Mr. Clean is bald...The Grinch Who Stole Christmas?!?
I give up! Tell me already, what?!?
LOL!
-------------------------------------–
Newt Gingrinch home on the range. lol

January 21, 2014 12:57 pm at 12:57 pm |

JayNYC

Color me surprised, Trump saying stuff that makes sense, even if it is kind of obvious.

January 21, 2014 12:57 pm at 12:57 pm |

keeth

I see Trump has been hanging out with John Boehner again.

January 21, 2014 12:58 pm at 12:58 pm |

Bring in the clowns

Does he cross dress like rudy ?

January 21, 2014 12:58 pm at 12:58 pm |

copanut

This just goes to prove that even a stopped clock can be right twice a day. Ironically, it's Trump's face that stopped the clock in the first place.

January 21, 2014 01:01 pm at 1:01 pm |

Brian

Is anyone worried about Trump's opinion?

January 21, 2014 01:02 pm at 1:02 pm |

jim

Donald trump is irrelevant.

January 21, 2014 01:04 pm at 1:04 pm |

Bitpyr8

The Donald is almost the same shade as my favorite wood stain. It looks better on the wood.

January 21, 2014 01:04 pm at 1:04 pm |

David L Laidig

Please RNC run this clown.....Please!

January 21, 2014 01:07 pm at 1:07 pm |

BobAD

Trump I thought he passed away....

January 21, 2014 01:09 pm at 1:09 pm |

Solomon Walker

Stop using the concealer, Donald – you look ridiculous.
And – you're 1 stalking event from criminal prosecution, dude. Do you think you have the right to follow people anywhere in the world and intimidate them when they speak against your ways?

You don't own the world.

Stop forcing people to accept your wealth. It is not always welcome when it reduces the right of people to own and keep their property, Mr. Trump.

You have no right to speak on this when you've not the wiggle room left to do so because you've backed yourself into a real estate corner that you can no longer climb out from without encountering the toes of those you've stepped on in attaining your excessive wealth.

Trump being the mouthpiece for the Republican party. LOL, what a joke. Instead of blaming the media for their loses, maybe they should take another long look at the reason they can't win the White House.

January 21, 2014 01:12 pm at 1:12 pm |

YUCK

Christie should be facing time along with people right beside him,the Edomites of yesterday is the Edomites of today.